Join us for this wonderful bird watching holiday in Dunster, a remarkably preserved medieval village on the northeastern edge of Exmoor National Park in Somerset.

The bird watching will take in a variety of habitats in and around Dunster.  We hope to spend one day at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve where the variety of habitats include woodland, meadow, fen, reed-beds and lakes.  We hope to see the nationally rare Marsh Pea and a diverse range of other specialist plants as well as a variety of breeding birds such as Lapwing, Snipe, Grasshopper warbler, Reed Warblers and, if we’re very lucky we may also hear some Water Rail and Nightingale.

We also hope to walk along the coast at Woody Bay to enjoy the coastal paths overlooking grey seals and a variety of nesting seabirds such as guillemot, razorbill, fulmar and kittiwake.

Another day may be spent on a circular walk along the side of Dunkery Hill and through Horner Wood, starting at Webber’s Post.  Here we’ll experience a mix of lowland heath and upland heather moorland where we might see the largest stronghold in Britain for the Heath Fritillary butterfly.  When we walk through the ancient woodland of Horner Wood, we’ll see some of the oldest oak pollards of southern Britain, all of which are nationally important for their lichen flora.  In particular one tree is estimated to be well over 500 years old and all the trees help host a wealth of breeding birds including Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Redstart and Redpoll.

We’ll also walk beside the River Barle at Withypool, a natural river of very high quality which has hardly been modified at all by pollution, water abstraction or river engineering and which provides valuable nesting and feeding habitat for Kingfishers, Dippers and Grey Wagtail.  The bordering river habitats include mires, swamps and meadows where breeding Grasshopper Warblers and Reed Buntings may also be spotted.  Once again Wood Warbler, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher may be seen in the extensive tracts of ancient upland sessile Oak woodland which fringe the river floodplains.

We’ll spend another half day walking around the wood-pasture and lowland dry heath of Dunster Park immediately south of Dunster, within the Exmoor National Park, where we hope to see  Dartford warblers, Green woodpeckers and Yellowhammers.

Extra optional activities will  include dusk/nocturnal adventures to spot nightjars and bats.

There are dramatic seascapes, quaint villages and some excellent long range views to enjoy too.

We stay at the Yarn Market Hotel, a long established hotel which caters very well for bird watchers. The holiday is full board and the hotel situated it the heart of historic Dunster. There will be a Her on a Hill walking group at the hotel at the same time.

• Price
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£1120 in a single ensuite room; £125 per person discount in a shared twin ensuite room Price includes: 5 nights' full board hotel accommodation; transport to walks; qualified Mountain Leader Not included: Travel to Dunster; personal expenses; insurance

This holiday is graded as leisurely. The main focus of the trip is bird watching rather than walking so the latter will be at a pace and length suitable for concentrating on the surrounding bird life. Expect to walk a maximum of 4 miles and often less depending on sightings.

Your guide for this holiday is Madeline Holloway a natural history expert and freelance ecologist. Her vast knowledge and enthusiasm is infectious. Clare Kelly, owner of Her on a Hill, will also be at the hotel guiding a walking trip.

The Yarn Market Hotel is in the quaint village of Dunster and has been a popular walking holiday destination for many years. This cosy 3* family run hotel offers a warm welcome and wonderful food.

By public transport: The nearest mainline station is Taunton which is 22 miles away. There is bus from here to Dunster Steep and the hotel is around a 7 minute walk away or they can pick up from the bus stop. Alternatively, we can organise a shared taxi depsnding on numberes (cost is around £70). By car: There is parking on the High Street next to the hotel or in the nearby pay and display car park at Dunster Steep. You are welcome to pull up at reception to unload.